The pressure point in the 2019 Cox Plate G1, as Castelvecchio (green cap) strikes for home and Lys Gracieux (red cap) begins to wind up her sensational finish. (PHOTO: Bronwen Healy)

Castelvecchio shares Champion 3YO honours

Few top-rated 2YOs manage to maintain or improve their standing as 3YOs, but Castelvecchio has done it.

The 2019/20 Australian Classifications, published this week by Racing Australia, rank Castelvecchio alongside Everest winner Yes Yes and Newmarket Handicap winner Bivouac on a figure of 120 at the head of the 3YO category.

The son of Dundeel earned that rating and topped the 3YO Intermediate category with a superlative performance for second behind Japanese Horse of the Year Lys Gracieux in the W.S. Cox Plate G1. 

Castelvecchio’s 2YO figure of 115 was bettered only by Microphone (116) whose best performance last season was his 112-rated second in Shadow Hero’s Randwick Guineas. 

A rating of 111, earned when she won the Storm Queen S. G1, makes Shout The Bar (by Not A Single Doubt) the leading filly in the 2019/20 3YO Intermediate category.

Arrowfield’s influence dominates the 2019/20 2YO Category which is headed by Not A Single Doubt’s Golden Slipper-winning son Farnan (118) and dual Group 1 winner King’s Legacy (by Redoute’s Choice) on 114.

Arrowfield graduate Tagaloa’s best figure of 113 ranked him third equal, with Prague (by Redoute’s Choice) just behind him on 112.

Snitzel’s outstanding daughter Away Game, two-time Group winner, Magic Millions heroine and Golden Slipper runner-up, is the Champion 2YO Filly on 110.

Magnificent 7YO sprinter Redzel put up one of the season’s best dozen open age performances when he was third to Nature Strip & Santa Ana Lane in the T.J. Smith S. G1. That earned Snitzel’s champion son a rating of 118 in his final season.

These stars of 2019/20 join a stellar group of Arrowfield-connected Champions of the past 5 seasons:
The Autumn Sun (Redoute’s Choice)- Champion 3YO, 2018/19
Estijaab (Snitzel) – joint Champion 2YO, 2017/18
Trapeze Artist (Snitzel)- Champion 3YO, 2017/18
Shoals (Fastnet Rock) – Champion 3YO Sprinter (Filly), 2017/18
Redzel (Snitzel) – Champion Older Sprinter, 2017/18
Single Gaze (Not A Single Doubt) – Champion Older Long/Extended Mare, 2017/18 & Champion 3YO Intermediate Filly, 2015/16
Invader (Snitzel) – joint Champion 2YO Colt, 2016/17
Lasqueti Spirit (Beneteau) – joint Champion 3YO Miler (Filly), 2016/17
Lankan Rupee (Redoute’s Choice) – joint Champion Older Sprinter, 2015/16
Sweet Idea (Snitzel) – Champion Older Sprinter (Mare), 2015/16
Royal Descent (Redoute’s Choice) – Champion Older Miler (Mare), 2015/16